Identifying the Indian State Based on Geographic Clues

The question asks us to identify an Indian state using three specific clues related to its geography and characteristics. Let's carefully examine each clue and see which state among the options fits all of them.

Analysis of Clue 1: Land of Red River and Blue Hills

The phrase "land of red river and blue hills" is a very popular description often associated with a particular region in India. The "red river" typically refers to the Brahmaputra river, known for its reddish silt, which is a major river system in Northeast India. The "blue hills" can refer to the numerous hills and ranges present in or bordering this region, part of the Eastern Himalayas and other smaller ranges. Let's consider the options:

• Karnataka: Located in South India, known for Western Ghats and rivers like Cauvery. Does not fit the description.
• Andhra Pradesh: Located on the eastern coast, known for Eastern Ghats and rivers like Godavari and Krishna. Does not fit the description.
• Assam: Located in Northeast India, heavily influenced by the Brahmaputra river and surrounded by hills like the Eastern Himalayas. This description strongly aligns with Assam.
• Chhattisgarh: Located in Central India, part of the Deccan Plateau region. Does not fit the description.

Based on this clue, Assam appears to be the most likely candidate.

Analysis of Clue 2: Contains Three Physiographic Divisions of India

India is broadly divided into six major physiographic divisions: The Northern Mountains, The Northern Plains, The Peninsular Plateau, The Indian Desert, The Coastal Plains, and The Islands. We need to find a state that encompasses parts of three of these divisions.

Let's see which divisions are present in or related to Assam:

• The Northern Mountains: The Eastern Himalayas and associated hill ranges (like Purvanchal) border or extend into parts of Assam (e.g., hills in the north and southeast).
• The Northern Plains: The vast Brahmaputra Valley, which forms the majority of Assam, is a significant part of the Great Northern Plains of India.
• The Peninsular Plateau: The Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills regions of Assam are considered extensions of the Meghalaya Plateau, which is part of the older Peninsular Plateau system.

Thus, Assam contains parts of the Northern Mountains, the Northern Plains, and the Peninsular Plateau. This matches the second clue.

Analysis of Clue 3: Covers About 2.39 Percent of Total Area of the Country

We need to check the area of Assam and compare it to the total area of India to see if it is approximately 2.39%.

• Total geographical area of India is approximately 3,287,263 square kilometers.
• The area of Assam is approximately 78,438 square kilometers.

Let's calculate the percentage:

\begin{equation*} \text{Percentage Area} = \left( \frac{\text{Area of Assam}}{\text{Total Area of India}} \right) \times 100 \end{equation*}

\begin{equation*} \text{Percentage Area} = \left( \frac{78438}{3287263} \right) \times 100 \end{equation*}

\begin{equation*} \text{Percentage Area} \approx 0.02386 \times 100 \approx 2.386\% \end{equation*}

The calculated percentage (approximately 2.386%) is very close to 2.39 percent as mentioned in the clue. This confirms that Assam fits the third clue as well.

Conclusion

Based on the analysis of all three clues:

• Clue 1 ("land of red river and blue hills") points strongly to Assam due to the Brahmaputra river and surrounding hills.
• Clue 2 (contains three physiographic divisions) is met by Assam (Northern Mountains, Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau).
• Clue 3 (covers about 2.39% of India's area) is confirmed by the area calculation for Assam.

All the clues consistently point towards Assam.

Therefore, the state described by the given clues is Assam.

Revision Table: Key Facts about Assam

Additional Information on Indian Physiographic Divisions

Understanding the major physiographic divisions helps in regional geography. Here's a brief look at the six main divisions of India:

• The Northern Mountains: Includes the Himalayas, Trans-Himalaya, and Purvanchal ranges. Known for high peaks and complex terrain.
• The Northern Plains: Formed by the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra river systems. A vast, fertile, alluvial plain.
• The Peninsular Plateau: The oldest landmass, composed of ancient crystalline, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. Includes plateaus like Deccan Plateau, Central Highlands, Meghalaya Plateau.
• The Indian Desert: The Thar Desert, located in Rajasthan, characterized by arid conditions and sand dunes.
• The Coastal Plains: Narrow strips along the Arabian Sea (Western Coast) and the Bay of Bengal (Eastern Coast).
• The Islands: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea.

States often span across multiple physiographic divisions due to their size and location, like Assam bordering mountains, containing plains, and extending onto plateau land.